Back in March, I introduced you to Dave Tinnes, who had embarked on a personal challenge to play catch with someone (didn’t matter who) every day, for 30 days straight. It was a journey inspired by the story of Ethan Bryan, who had completed his own 365-day catch challenge. Dave’s goal was to forge personal connections with as many people as possible. (Click here to see that blog.)
I met Dave in March, when he was almost three weeks into his challenge. We met at the library, where I interviewed him for my blog (and of course played a game of catch). It was pretty clear even then that there was no way he was going to end his challenge after just 30 days.
As expected, Dave has not only blown past that 30-day goal, he’s extended it to more than 100 days — and there’s no sign the streak will be ending anytime soon.
Last week, I was honored to be Dave’s catch partner for day #100 of his journey. Our first impromptu catch session in front of the library was short, windy and cold. Last week was much better. We met at Charles Sexton Park; the weather was warmer and our catch session much longer. Our conversations ranged from my blog to his plans to do more writing, to the aggressive geese that kept chasing us off the path. And of course we talked about where his catch journey has taken him and what it has taught him.
He told me he hasn’t had much difficulty finding catch partners, many coming from social media and word of mouth. Friends recommend friends, and sometimes he even asks complete strangers (no one has declined his in-person invitations yet). There have been times when his scheduled catch partner hasn’t shown up, however. That’s when Dave turns to his “bullpen,” three or four people who are ready to play catch on a moment’s notice.
I asked him who some of his favorite catch partners have been. His list was a long one, but included Ike Walker (Negro League All Star catcher for Satchel Paige); Josh Rawitch (President of the Baseball Hall of Fame); his wife’s 101-year old grandmother; his wife, both of his kids and some close friends.
I asked him how the journey has changed his life in the last three months, to which he said,
I’m so much more intentional in the choices I’m making, which affects many areas of my life. I’m planning more, I’m becoming more organized. I’m learning to listen to people intently, which helps deepen my relationships in a more wonderful way.
He’s also realized that he wants to become a better writer, and perhaps even write a book about his personal catch journey.
What hasn’t changed, he added, is that every catch is unique and special, he still looks forward to playing catch every day, his wife has been very gracious and patient through the whole journey, and his son is his favorite catch partner. But most importantly, the journey is still all about connecting.
Now 106 days into his 30-day catch journey, Dave Tinnes has played catch 158 times. Some days there’s only one catch partner, other days two, occasionally three or more. But every single time is unique and every single connection significant.
He doesn’t see an end to the journey anytime soon, but instead is looking forward to where the journey might take him. In the months ahead, he hopes to do some more traveling, experience more unique venues, and play catch at different major league ballparks he and his son visit. And he really hopes he can have a game of catch with Mookie Wilson when he visits Rochester later this month.
Clearly this personal challenge has affected Dave Tinnes deeply. But what’s gone unsaid so far is how it’s also affected everyone he’s played catch with.
Dave wears his heart on his sleeve, and he exudes infectious positivity. He analyzes every moment in life for its lessons, and sincerely tries to listen — really listen — to everyone he meets. He lives every moment of his life, in the most complete meaning of the word. We could all learn from him and aspire to do the same.
If you’d like to schedule a time to play catch with Dave, he’d love to meet you. Drop him an email at Tbonedmt@yahoo.com.
Our friends at Wellness 360 have scheduled two free special events in June of interest to caregivers, and especially those who love someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
The first is a Caring for Caregivers event on June 21, which Wellness 360 hosts quarterly at the Webster Recreation Center. It’s open to local caregivers, and basically offers a night of respite and relaxation:
Enjoy a night of laughter, new friendships, and respite care. We have a group of caregivers that are uplifting and supportive. If you are not a caregiver but have a spouse with a progressive diagnosis, this is the place for you. Our Caring for Caregivers events are held quarterly; we invite Caregivers with a loved one with any progressive diagnosis to join us for an evening of appreciation. Bring your quarters for a night of Left, Right, and Center. Not sure how to play? No worries, it’s easy to learn. Our caregivers bring finger food to pass and a drink of your choice to share (wine/beer is allowed!). This event is not a support group but a safe place to laugh and enjoy two hours of time alone.
Caregivers are even invited to bring their loved ones along for supervised fun from the staff and volunteers at Wellness 360. They’ll be escorted to a different room in the building where they’ll meet new friends and enjoy pizza, dessert and water, a pool table, ping pong, TV, and comfortable seating. There is a small cost of $10 if you choose to bring your loved ones.
The Caring for Caregivers event will be held at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Drive (off of Phillips) on Wednesday June 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Caregivers do not have to register, but if you’re bringing a loved one, please click here to register them.
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The next is a Ride to Remember event on Friday June 24, also at the Recreation Center.
The event raises money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 11 million are acting as their caregivers.
This year, the ride honors Robert Cunningham. Robert served his whole career in the City of Rochester Police Department, and on a more personal note, was the father of Kelli Beebe, Wellness 360’s front desk manager. Ride in the memory of Robert, of your loved one, or to just spread awareness of the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
There are three easy ways to get involved:
Join one of three 45-minute spin classes held at the Webster Rec Center. Donations to Alzheimer’s Association are accepted at the door. Seating is limited; registration is required. Three different classes will be offered for different skill levels. Click here for class descriptions and to register.
If you can’t attend a ride in person, you can sign up for a team, ride when and where you want and donate as you wish. Click here to sign up.
How many of us (especially those of us who grew up far from Webster) have longed to walk the halls of our old elementary schools and remember what it was like “back then”?
This year’s senior class got a chance to do that Tuesday when the graduate parades returned to the elementary schools. It’s a day when our Webster Thomas and Schroeder seniors hop on buses and go revisit the elementary schools where they began their Webster School careers.
It was June of 2016 when most of these seniors last walked the halls of their elementary schools. But this week, as the class of 2023, they walked proudly through them again, and judging from the reaction of the young students who lined the halls in welcome, you’d think they were conquering heroes.
Nodding to the fact that it’s sometimes difficult to recognize these tall, mature adults for the freckle-faced young people they once were, each senior wore a sign with his or her name and post-graduation plans. As they paraded down one hall, then another, they passed hundreds of cheering and applauding kindergarten through fifth grade students. Every so often the parade was slowed when a graduate stopped to take a photo or get a long hug from a favorite teacher.
I think this is a wonderful way to celebrate our seniors, congratulate them on their success, and remind them how much they have accomplished.
Holy cow, have I gotten a huge response from the blog I recently wrote about the Hegedorn’s ceiling tiles.
If you’re not familiar with this story (which is hard to believe), the gist of it is this: 32 years ago, students at Klem North Elementary School painted ceiling tiles which have been hanging above the registers at Hegedorn’s Market since around 1991. But rather than toss them in a dumpster when the store closes at the end of this month, the folks at Hegedorn’s are making an effort to return them to the students who painted them.
The blog has received dozens of comments and hundreds of “likes” and has been shared almost 70 times. I’ve heard from former students all over the state and the country who remember painting tiles, and are interested in getting them back — or at least seeing photos of them.
Hegedorn’s Produce Manager Fred Palmer has been taking the lead in removing the panels, and had originally planned to put them all on display above the produce case so customers would notice them and maybe recognize one.
Well, since the blog has received so much attention, putting them on display has not been necessary. Instead, people are being asked to call Hegedorn’s (585-671-4450), and the service desk is keeping a list of everyone who’s interested in retrieving their tile. Fred is planning to start making phone calls sometime this coming week.
In the meantime, all of the panels have been removed and are being kept in the back room of the store’s produce department. Fred was kind enough to let me spread them all out and take photos of them. It might help even more former students recognize their work, and it might be fun just to remember what all their classmates did.
Click here to see the entire gallery of panels, plus a few miscellaneous photos. I think I was able to photograph them all, but I see that I cut the name off of one of them. If you recognize the one with the Pepsi bottle, corn and carrots, please let me know!
P.S. If you happen to get your panel back, please snap a photo of you with it, so I can feature them in a future follow-up blog. And wouldn’t it be fun to also have your 4th or 5th grade photo along with it …????
P.P.S. Channel 10 and Channel 13 are both planning do stories about the ceiling tiles, so I’ll let you know when I hear more about that.
Webster’s two spray parks are now open for the season, at Ridgecrest Park (off of Ebner Drive) and the beautiful, First Responders Spray Park near the Webster Recreation Center on Chiyoda Dr.
The First Responders Park (pictured here) is especially fun for kids and families. It’s a firefighter-themed playground and splash pad, with a nearby pavilion. The splash pad has all sorts of water-fun features including a fire hydrant, a dalmatian fountain and fire truck slide.
Ridgecrest’s spray park (pictured below) is a smaller facility, but is just a short walk from the center of the village. It also boasts an adjacent playground and skate park.
If you’re a fan of the hit Broadway show Come From Away (or even if you’re not), the following story about kindness will warm your heart.
Come From Away tells how 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 and how the people of Gander and nearby towns opened their hearts and their homes for five days to house and feed the almost 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members. My story today is about how two Webster residents, Bob Freese and Peg Schaefer, took it upon themselves to thank the people of Newfoundland for their generosity, and how they’re planning to do it again later this summer. It tells of a month-long trip spanning almost 5,000 miles that would take them to the four corners of the island, and change their lives forever.
In December of 2018, when they were visiting friends near New York City, Bob and Peg saw Come From Away for the first time. It touched them deeply. They realized soon afterwards that they wanted to visit Newfoundland, meet the people, and express their gratitude.
They planned their trip for the following August, and as they were doing so, they wondered how exactly to express their gratitude. Ultimately, they decided on chocolate. More specifically, 1.55-ounce Hershey Bars, which could be easily purchased and wrapped with their message of thanks.
They started spreading the word about their planned adventure, and donations of candy bars and money to purchase candy bars started flowing in. Shortly before their trip, they invited friends and family members to a cabin party to wrap the candy bars and individually sign each thank you message. By the time they were all done, Bob and Peg had 600 Hershey Bars prepped for their trip to Newfoundland.
The signing party held before the 2019 trip.600 candy bars ready to go
On August 15, 2019, Bob and Peg packed the candy bars into their RV and set off for Newfoundland. It took almost a week to reach the ferry in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and another six and a half hours on the ferry to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. So they had plenty of time to figure out exactly how they’d go about handing out the chocolate. How would they approach people? Would it seem weird just to walk up to someone and give them a candy bar?
Turns out, they needn’t have been concerned; it just came naturally. In no time at all they’d handed out their very first chocolate thank you message, to a waitress in Port aux Basques.
For the next several weeks, Bob and Peg traveled from town to town, up one side of the island and down the other, distributing their candy bars to people they met in shops, stores, visitors’ centers, gas stations, or even people on the street they saw walking by. Each time they’d explain how they were so inspired by the Come From Away story that they wanted to visit Newfoundland and thank the residents. And each time they’d get smiles, hugs, tears, and thanks in return.
“They were blown away,” Bob said, “like we gave them a million dollars.”
Now, that’s a pretty cool story in its own right. Two kind people taking the time and significant effort to return the love shown by the Newfoundlanders during one of the darkest times in our country’s history. But as I listened to Bob and Peg tell their story, I realized that the most amazing part of their adventure is not the kindness they showed, but the kindnesses they received. Everywhere they went, they experienced the kind of generosity and genuine kindness towards strangers that was epitomized in Come From Away.
They actually got a taste of that hospitality well before they embarked on their trip. Several months earlier, they were vacationing in Florida when they met a couple from Newfoundland who happen to live about a half hour north of the ferry (and “there’s only one road”). When they heard about Bob and Peg’s plans, they asked, would they like to park their RV in the driveway when they got to town?
They accepted the offer, of course, but “We didn’t want to impose,” Peg said. “We thought one night in the driveway and then we’d be on our way.” But their new friends had other ideas, showing them around the town, and sharing their meals for two days.
That was their first experience with Newfoundlanders’ hospitality. There would be many others.
Like the day they met Joyce and Mabel, two ladies who were walking by their RV. After Bob and Peg presented them with candy bars, they happened to mention they hoped to see a moose on their trip. Later that evening a man pulled up to the RV and said, “Hi, I’m Pierce, Joyce’s husband. She said you want to go see some moose. Get in, I’ll take you moose lookin’.” And they did.
Or the day they handed out some candy bars to several men gathered at a town’s clean water spring. “Meet us here in the parking lot tomorrow,” they said, “and we’ll take you whale watching.” And they did. Later, they invited Bob and Peg to dinner.
Incidents like those happened pretty much everywhere they went, as people opened their hearts and their homes to the strangers from New York who were traveling around, handing out candy bars.
But then it got even better.
Towards the end of their trip, they were on Fogo Island when they met Diane Davis, a third-grade teacher from Gander Academy, on whom the character of Beulah Davis was partly based.
“All of a sudden she pulled up,” Peg said. “She has a Come From Away jacket, Come From Away shoes. She said, ‘I’ve been following you. I’ve been seeing your candy bar posted on my Facebook page and it was getting closer and closer, and I was hoping you would come here.’ She came into our camper for two hours and told us her story.”
A few days later, they were in Gander and got a note from Diane, saying that a “few of us” were getting together at a local restaurant that evening and would they like to come along?
“When we got there,” Peg said, “we saw 14, 16 people already there. Almost everybody that’s in the play, the people are there. Along with Michael Rubinoff, the creative producer.” The date was Sept. 10, and everyone was in town to attend a remembrance ceremony the next day in Appleton.
After dinner, Rubinoff sat with Bob and Peg for two hours, telling them the entire story of how the production came to be, start to finish.
Of course Bob and Peg were invited to the ceremony the next day in Appleton, where they were special guests with front-row seats, and their story was part of the speakers’ remarks. That afternoon, they attended a second ceremony in Gander, where Peg stood next to the real-life Beulah.
What a perfect way to cap an amazing experience.
Bob and Peg had a hard time putting into words what the trip meant to them. “Our mission was to say thanks, and it changed our lives,” Bob said. “One of the things that we found out is the message from the play is all true,” he added. “They’re unpretentious, fun-loving people who are giving and sharing and helping each other.”
It was such a life-changing experience that they’ll be repeating it later this summer. In late July, Bob and Peg will be returning to Newfoundland to hand out even more candy bars and reconnect with many of the new friends they made there. (“They say that when you meet a Newfoundlander, you’re a friend for life,” Peg said.) They’re calling this trip the “Soul Connection Tour,” and they’ll be traveling with seven other people this time. The candy bars will have a new message. In 2019 the wrappers said thank you from the people of Upstate New York. This time they’re from the people of the United States of America.
By the way, they never saw a moose up close. Perhaps they will this time, especially if the amazing folks of Newfoundland have any say in it.
With Michael Rubinoff in front of a piece of the World Trade CenterBob and Peg at the overlook in Dover where Nick and Diane stood in the playUgly sticks!
How you can help
If you’d like to support Bob and Peg on their 2023 Soul Connection Tour this summer, there are a few ways you can help:
Log onto their GoFundMe page to donate some money to the cause. You can read more about their mission there as well.
Or better yet, buy a box of candy bars and join Bob and Peg on Thursday July 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Chamber of Commerce, 1110 Crosspointe Lane (Suite C) for a candy-bar-wrapping-and-signing party. It’s a chance to add your personal thanks to the good people of Newfoundland. You don’t even need to bring any candy bars. Just come and join the fun. Bring the kids, watch some videos taken during the previous trip, and sign some candy bars.
If you’d like to arrange another time to sign some bars, contact Bob Freese at BobFreese@gmail.com. Click here to see the Soul Connection Tour flyer for more details and a look at the thank-you message.
I’m kicking off today’s mailbag with this follow-up from the Webster Central School District about the Northeast Monroe County Special Olympics Track & Field Day, which Webster Schroeder High School hosted on May 23.
Athletes from Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas, East Irondequoit, West Irondequoit, Penfield, Creekside, Mary Cariola, and Greece schools participated in this year’s event. They competed in track, field, and adaptive events including dashes, relays and distance runs, softball throw, long jump, shot put, 25m manual wheelchair, 25m electric wheelchair, and wheelchair softball throw.
Additional special events were offered for younger athletes to introduce them to sports movements and skills, including activities like an obstacle course, parachute games and target practice.
Special Olympics NY programs are designed to offer age-appropriate experiences to younger athletes that will prepare them for authentic Special Olympics competition.
This huge sale will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday June 8 and 9, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday June 10. Along with what you might consider “regular” garage sale items, there will be lots of picture frames, furniture, household goods, sporting goods and toys.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the church’s outreach projects, including their Little Free Pantry which stands at the edge of their parking lot.
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Great food is in store on Saturday June 17 when the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance Parents Association host a Chicken BBQ drive-through fundraiser. They’ll be set up at 780 Ridge Rd. in Webster (between Five Mile Line and Hatch roads).
Dinners will be served beginning at 4 p.m., until they’re sold out. They cost $15, which includes a half chicken, potatoes, cole slaw, rolls and butter.
This is a great family event featuring food trucks, music, a KidZone, raffles, and lots of vendors and community agency displays.
The Penfield Recreation Center is located at 1985 Baird Rd.
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There’s always lots of great stuff happening at the Webster Recreation Center, but here are a few highlights:
The always entertaining Senior Singers will present a free performance on Tuesday June 6 at 11 a.m. in the lunch room. No registration is required and everyone is welcome.
Need a ride to the Rec Center? Good news! Anyone 55 or older can request a ride from your door to the Rec Center and back home again any Tuesday or Thursday. On Thursday, the ride home also includes a stop at the grocery store.
To schedule your ride, call the Rec Center at 585-872-7103 ext. 7385 no later than 8 a.m. the day of the ride. You’ll be asked to provide your name, address, phone number and requested date(s). Pickup will be between 9 and 10 a.m., and will return after Lunch Club 60, between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Rides cost $4 round trip per person/per day, payable at the front office upon arrival.
The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Dr.
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There’s always great stuff happening at the Webster Public Library also, but here are a few highlights:
Outdoor story times have returned to Harmony Park. Every Wednesday June through August, beginning at 9:30 a.m., bring the kids and a blanket and enjoy story time at the band shell. All ages are welcome and no registration is required. The park is located on Phillips Rd. south of Ridge.
June 12 is this month’s Make-it-Monday craft night. From 6 to 7 p.m. participants can make rainbow cloud hangings. Registration is required. Click here to register.
Kindness rocks! Stop by the library on Saturday June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and decorate a rock or two with words or images of kindness. Then you can take your rocks and hide them around Webster.
The 2023 summer reading theme is “All Together Now,” so the library is celebrating friendship and kindness with a three-week Friendship Camp. It begins Wednesday June 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with Friendship Bracelets and Button Making. Grades 4-12 are welcome. Registration is required.
Time is fast approaching for the second in my very informative and (I hope) slightly interesting presentations all about me and Webster on the Web.
I’ll be heading to the Webster Public Library on Thursday night June 8 at 6:30 p.m. to blather on for about 45 minutes about things like my background, how I got started writing, how the blog came about, and more.
So if you’ve ever wondered about those things, please attend the presentation, and bring any questions and blog ideas you might have. There’s no charge, but it would be helpful if you could register so we kind of know how many people to expect. It’s easy to sign up. You can click here to do that. The library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.
I look forward to meeting more of my readers and hearing firsthand what you think about the blog. Hope to see you there!
The Village of Webster’s business scene just keeps getting better, with the opening of another new shop on East Main St.
Oh Bella Co, located at 24 East Main, is a charming shop featuring clothing items and accessories especially for young women, but really perfect for most any age.
Owner Isabella Proietti is excited to bring her store to the village, after operating an online shop for five years.
“I’ve always wanted to open a retail shop,” she said. “I like the personal connections you can make. Online for clothing is a little hard because no one can feel the material and try it on. … Although I’ve done well online, I think it would be awesome to have a space, have people come in, talk to them,” she added.
A lifelong Webster resident, Isabella is especially excited to have found what she calls “the perfect space” right on Main Street.
Isabella describes her offerings as
kind of based on my style. I love traveling. I’ve been to different boutiques in Boston and Florida. So it’s a weird mix of beach vibe with a city Boston-girl vibe. I have both of those styles so I’m going to mix them. Cute and comfortable, based on what I look for when I go to the store, with lots of different options, for all ages.
Even though the storefront has been vacant for several years, she and her very helpful family members didn’t have to do too much to fix it up. Just some painting, updating the restroom and installing the changing areas. This week she’s been working hard to get all of the clothing racks set up and her merchandise tagged and ready to go.
That will officially happen this Saturday morning June 3 when Oh Bella has its grand opening celebration — complete with ribbon cutting ceremony — beginning at 10 a.m. The rest of the day, shoppers can browse Oh Bella’s charming selection of clothing and accessories, and grab some delicious desserts and treats made by @OliviaBrynCakes while you shop. Madison Sophia Jewelry will also be on hand with a selection of her beautiful jewelry items.
Take a moment to stop in on Saturday to welcome Oh Bella to the village!
An in-school food distribution effort at Spry and Willink middle schools is helping make sure that no student there goes hungry.
The food pantries were first established last year at Willink Middle School when math teacher Julie Russi and school counselor Mary Hurley realized there were a significant number of students at the school who were asking for food almost daily because they were hungry. After looking further into the issue, they also discovered that many of those students were experiencing financial and food insecurity at home. Even though they had access to extra food at school, that wasn’t helping them when they got home.
In the elementary schools, students facing these issues can take advantage of the district’s free-food backpack program, and the high schools have established food pantries. But there was no such program at the middle schools. Clearly there was a gap that needed filling.
To do that, Hurley and Russi established the Willink Food Pantry. It began small, just a single shelf in Hurley’s office, stocked with food from Immanuel Lutheran Church, which supports the elementary schools’ backpack program. Over the summer, they brainstormed ways to expand the program and involve the entire school community. They came up with a schedule where each of the building’s nine core teams would alternate months donating food and hygiene items for the pantry.
With their plan in place and the entire school’s help, Hurley and Russi have been able to keep the pantry stocked all year, supporting several students and their families, and a few staff members.
A peek inside the pantry at Spry Middle School
The decision to begin a food pantry at Spry Middle School was sparked much the same way as the Willink pantry. Staff members were discussing how one of their students was concerned they might soon be evicted from their home. That would mean the entire family could become food insecure. Literacy teacher Meghann Piwko recognized the need and, using Willink’s established pantry as a model, started to organize one at Spry as well.
Similar to the program at Willink, Piwko rotates the donation schedule among the different houses’ homerooms, asking students, parents and teachers to donate during a particular month. The donations are then sorted and placed in two cabinets for students to access. Students are welcome to visit the cabinets and take whatever they need, as long as an adult is present.
Both programs are running smoothly. But every once in a while something reminds you how important these kinds of programs are for our young people. Like when Piwko asked a student why they never took any of the pastas and sauce. Turned out that they had no way to cook pasta because they live in a hotel and only have access to a microwave.
Even though the school year is nearing the end, it’s not too late to help stock the Willink and Spry middle school food pantries. Even over the summer, food will continue to be available to students. Willink will continue to distribute food to families over the summer, and any items left over at Spry will be boxed up and sent home with kids and/or donated to Webster HOPE.
I feature the people and places and events that make Webster the wonderful community it is — and throw in some totally-not-Webster-related personal ramblings every once in a while as well.
I love it when readers send me news about the great things happening in their schools or the community, so please email me anytime at missyblog@gmail.com
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